There’s no doubt that drinking can be super problematic, but at the same time, I think the US has some societal expectations that hopefully deter others from really drinking too much and violating personal space. We aren’t perfect about it (Alcoholism is stigmatized, sadly), but I think we do a lot better than other countries.
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I mean the only complaint that I really have is that as a 20-year-old in the military, the fact that I still can’t legally drink sucks donkey cocks.
As a non-drinker, it’s substantially more comfortable. For example, Indians who drink, really pressurize others to drink. It’s really frustrating. I don’t have to think about it in a more American heavy environment.
I have lots of mixed feelings about it. I enjoy drinking but go back and forth about how often I feel like it’s such an influential part of socializing in DC.
It’s a tough balance with the car culture we have – I think normalizing social drinking earlier (17-20) would likely reduce the binge drinking of our college kids that often leads to alcoholism, but we also have many more youths driving than similar Western countries (especially in rural areas) and we don’t need any more DUIs.
It’s a lot better than many other countries (UK for example) drinking culture